Young South African spinners to train in India

	Thandi Tshabalala will train under Narendra Hirwani in Mohali © AFP Enlarge

Thandi Tshabalala is one out of seven promising spinners picked by Cricket South Africa (CSA) to be sent to India for a 12-day coaching camp starting June 3. The players will be accompanied by national selector Shafiek Abrahams and Dolphins coach Yashin Ebrahim.

Jonathan Vandiar, a Dolphins legspinner, who took four wickets in six World Cup Under-19 matches, will also be making the trip to Mohali where the players will attend a training camp under former Indian legspinner Narendra Hirwani and other coaches.

The trip is being funded by Shyam Bhatia, a Dubai-based Indian businessman, who is keen to develop spin bowling in South Africa. Your [South Africa's] strength is in fast bowlers, ours [India's] because of the conditions is in the spinning department," Bhatia told supercricket website. "I hope this sponsorship will lead to more people from other countries contributing to changing the lives of young talented and often under-privileged cricketers all over the world. India is the perfect place for young spinners to learn their trade."

"This venture helps us complete the spinners' programme we have set up with the national coordinator Shafiek Abrahams, who will be going with the spinners to India in June," said Vince van der Bijl, the CSA general manager. "It is ideal - we will not only learn from the experienced masters of spin but our young bowlers will be given the opportunity of playing in the intense heat and on the very different wickets. That experience, too, for the future tours of the subcontinent is very much part of this plan."

Spinners:
Corbyn Dolley, Keshav Maharaj, Daryn Smit, Aubrey Swanepoel, Thandi Tshabalala, Roelof van der Merwe, Jonathan Vandiar.